LEWISTON – USDA Rural Development State Director Michael W. Aube has announced the following new employees:

John Darling, has joined the USDA Rural Development’s Lewiston area office as an area specialist. Darling, of Portland, will be providing leadership in implementing Rural Development’s activities; making and servicing complex and difficult loans, loan guarantees, and grants; providing technical assistance to rural communities, individuals, program applicants and borrowers, as well as state, federal, and local governments; and conducting group meetings and training sessions.

Darling has an associates degree in business administration from the University of Southern Maine. He has 30 years of experience in banking, finance, marketing, residential mortgage lending, and most recently held a position as loan officer at Homeowners Assistance Corp. in South Portland.

Michael Jenkins of Old Orchard Beach also joined the Lewiston area office as an area specialist. He has a bachelors degree in business administration with a minor in economics from the University of Southern Maine. He has more than 20 years of lending experience. Prior to joining Rural Development, he was the branch manager at Capital One Auto Finance in Scarborough.

Kristy White, has also joined the USDA Rural Development’s Lewiston area office as an area assistant. Her responsibilities include providing technical and general information concerning all of Rural Development’s programs, as well as outreach and public information, loan servicing and processing activities, and general administrative activities. White has three years of experience with Rural Development from prior employment, and most recently was an administrator for the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Lewiston area office serves the counties of Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec and Oxford.